Tracing Flyers history, one signature at a time

Not to challenge your fanhood, but even the most die-hard Flyers fans probably would not remember the name. He played in one game for the Flyers in their inaugural 1967-68 season as a last-minute call-up.

It was one of only two career NHL games for him - and it happened to be his last.

You might not remember him, but Tim Marino found him and his autograph.

Out of the 511 players to ever don a Flyers jersey - even for just one game, like Carruthers - Marino has amazingly obtained an autograph from 504 of them. He has even secured autographs from new acquisitions Ray Emery, Chris Pronger and Ian Laperriere.

"About a year-and-a-half ago, I had gotten a Flyers autograph that I couldn't identify," said Marino, 28, of Bordentown, N.J. "So I went to Hockeydb.com to see a list of Flyers players. I have collected a lot of movies and music, but sports has always been at the forefront for me. I never realized what could come out of this."

Once Marino figured out who the player was who signed his newly found trading card, he was hooked.

"I just started focusing on getting all of them," he said. "It has happened a lot quicker than I thought it would. I guess that shows the power of the Internet."

Some have scribbled their names on trading cards, pictures, team programs, pucks, and even hockey sticks. Bernie Parent immortalized a dollar bill for Marino.

Marino also has autographs from 15 of the 16 coaches in Flyers history.

Some players have been easier to find than others. The names that Marino hasn't yet accounted for include Mike Boland, Gary Morrison, Randy Osburn, Bob Ritchie, Magnus Roupe, Shaun Sabol and Glen Seabrooke. Those seven players - who skated in a combined 118 games for the Flyers - aren't exactly household names.

"It has been rather challenging," said Marino, a lifelong Flyers fan. "Not all players have had trading cards. With some players, I have had to go to the minors, the old WHA, or find old index cards or team programs.

"One that helped me the most was a Richmond Robins [the Flyers former minor league affiliate] team program from 1975-76. Without that, I probably would not have been able to get as far as I did."

The endeavor - which includes a lot of deep Google searching and combing on eBay - has been less costly than one might imagine. Marino's most expensive item, and one of his most prized, is a stick autographed by the entire 1978-79 Flyers that cost him $125.

"I don't know a round figure of what I have spent," Marino says. "It's not that expensive, especially with this economy. There is a lot more supply than demand for products like this. A lot of times, I am the only bidder for an item on eBay and it may go for $3 or $4."

Marino, whose first memory of the Flyers is post-Pelle Lindbergh, estimates that he has almost 20 Bernie Parent autographs.

"He is still in the area, so that has made it a lot easier," Marino said. "He makes himself very accessible."

While collecting signatures has been an exciting pastime, the undertaking has also been a valuable lesson for Marino.

"I wasn't out for fame or glory with this," he said. "It was something I did. Ever since I realized what hockey was, they have always been my team. I care about the history of the team.

"It has given me an important history lesson. There are a lot of players long forgotten." *